Motor driven illuminated endless band sign apparatus



Dec. 15, 1936. 1 HLSMAN- 2,064,115

MOTOR DRIVEN ILLUMINATED ENDLESS BAND SIGN APPARATUS Filed Feb. l5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l [Sia/07?@ f/o/S//z avek Dec.V 15, 1936. l. HOLSMAN 2,064,115

MOTOR DRIVEN ILLUMINATED ENDLESS BAN SIGN APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1935 s Sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 15,1936@ l. HoLsMAN s 2,064,115

TOR DRIVEN ILLUMINATED ENDLESS BAND SIGN APPARATUS Filed Feb. l5, 1935 nnnun n n u n w s Sheets-sheet 5 Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE MOTOR DRIVEN ILLUNIINATED ENDLESS BAND SIGN APPARATUS 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a motor driven illuminated endless band sign apparatus, and more particularly to a small compactl box-like structure in which an endless band, of greater length than the structure, is arranged to be continuously moved along an opening in a side wall of the structure and illuminated by means within the structure for displaying the matter borne by the band as it is moved.

The invention further contemplates a case or box so constructed as to be readily portable and adapted to be placed in any convenient position for display or advertising purposes, and in which an endless band of inherently stiff yet resilient material, such as celluloid, is impressed with suitable display matter and continuously moved along an opening in a side wall of the box.

It has heretofore been known that endless band signs have been devised, but in the main, the bands utilized have been constructed of cloth, paper, or the like material which is readily torn, and which becomes snarled in the magazine or storage portion of the apparatus so as toy resist movement of the band forV advertising purposes. Furthermore, the bands for the most part now in use have the letters thereon formed by punch marks outlining the letters, so that the result is indistinct and the effect produced is dim and far from pleasing or satisfactory. The invention is directed to an endless band type of sign wherein the major portion of the band is folded or grouped in convolutions within a magazine or storage portion of the apparatus so that necessarily the band must be of Sucient selfcontained rigidity to fold and unfold without becoming tangled. Furthermore, the structure must be so constructed as to enable ready withdrawal of the band from the storage space or compartment without the band, at any time, becoming wedged against advancement which wedgng, of course, would cause breakage of the band rendering the apparatus useless.

The present invention contemplates a machine of the character mentioned, wherein the band is of celluloid or other like material, inherently stiff and yet resilient enough for the purpose intended which band has advertising matter thereon, preferably photographically made. Such a band has been found to very readily fold or form convolutions in the magazine, and to readily unwind or draw out of the magazine as the band is moved by the motor of the apparatus.

It has been found that a band of celluloid of the character generally employed for motion picture films possesses the requisite characteristics desired and by the use of such a band a long one,

sometimes of several hundred feet, may be eX- pediticusly employed in the apparatus of the present invention. LSuch lm lends itself very readily to the formation of convolutions or folds and moves easily through the apparatus so that a motor of small size and power, may be used.

The celluloid band or film, of the present invention, may be so treated as to causev the charactersthereon to appear as transparent and with the background opaque, so that the characters stand out pronouncedly and boldly thus requiring a source of illumination which can very readily be arranged within the box or casing of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is toprovide a motor driven illuminated endless band sign apparatus which is of readily portable size and shape and consisting of simple devices and parts.

Another object of the present invention isto provide means for-readily changing the appearance as to eo-lor of the displayed matter on the endless band.

A furtherl object of the present invention is to provide, inan apparatus of the class described, a

storage space or magazine for the folded or convoluted portions of the band wthbottom and side walls of such material as will not prevent ready movement of the folds or the convolutions of the band into and out of and through the magazine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an endless band sign of the type 'described wherein the band utilized possesses sufcient inherent stiifness to stand in edgewise position and also so that it may be readily folded or convoluted without offering undue resistance to advancement into or out of the storage space or magazine.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel driving arrangement for the movement of Athe band whereby the direction of entry of the band into the storage space or magazine may be varied within certain limits.

The invention has for a further object the provision of means for guiding the top and bottom edges of the portion of the film or band as it is moved along the opening in the side wall o-f the apparatus so that the film may be prevented from accidental displacement with respect to the light source and thereby assure at all times a clear cut fold and readily observed advertising or display medium;

. A further object of the present invention is to provide, in an apparatus of the class described, means within the magazine or storage space for preventing the folds or convclutions of the band or film from being vertically displaced one with respect to another and thus preventing coiling or clogging of the folds or convolutions.

The above other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of one form of the present invention, with the cover and front side wall of the box or case removed, showing one form of the driving means for the band or lm and illustrating an elongated single incandescent bulb as the source of illumination for the band as it is moved along the opening in the side wall.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical, fragmental, sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of another form of casing or box of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental detail view showing one manner of means for securing a relative angular adjustment as to the driving roll and its idler utilized for moving the band or film throughthe casing and adjustable to vary the direction of lm travel from the driving roller.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line V-V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line VI--VI of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of another casing or box, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and showing an inserted plate applicable over the storage compartment or magazine serving as hold-down means for the folded or convoluted portions of the film or band within such space or magazine.

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a casing of the form of Figure 7, showing the top applied to the casing and the relative relation of the hold down plate over the storage space or magazine.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, the casing therein shown comprises a box E having a lid or cover G with which is integrally formed the side wall 54 having an offset portion 55 in it in which is an elongated opening 56. The integral side wall 54 is not hinged to the box E but ts thereon in close engagement. The lower margin of the wall 54 may be provided with an inturned ange 51 for fitting underneath the bottorn'of the box along the open side which is normally closed by said side wall 54.

For convenience in terminology, the wall 54 will herein be designated as the front wall, a1- though it might be any other wall of the casing as desired.

The cover G is, a short distance inwardly of the front wall 54, provided with an elongated opening 58 for receiving an edge glow plate 59. The ends of the plate are received in channel brackets 66, suitably secured to the topl as by screws or bolts 6l. Inwardly of the top B, the ends of the plate 59 are carried in stirrups 62 suitably secured to the Linder side of the top G adjacent the ends of the opening 58. Between the plate 59 and the front wall 54 of the box, the cover is provided with a plurality of vents or louvres 63 through which heat from within the box may pass to the atmosphere.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a motor designated generally as H, is suitably supported on a plate 64 which is mounted in spaced relation to the bottom of the box, on feet 65, which may be of resilient material such as rubber or rubber composition or the like. The plate 64 is secured to the bottom of the box by bolts or screws 66 passing through the plate and the several feet 65. The motor H is so mounted on the plate 64 that its shaft 61 projects in a horizontal direction between the plate 64 and the bottom of the box. The shaft is provided with a Worm 68 which meshes with a worm wheel 69 secured to an upstanding spindle 10 which is keyed to a driving roller or sprocket 1|. The iroller or sprocket 1| is preferably cored toi receive lubricating material 12 in its interior, which interior is normally closed by a ring 'I3 surrounding the upper end of the spindle 16 within the interior of the roller. The roller is, on its periphery, provided with a plurality of teeth 14 for meshing with holes 15 formed along the top and bottom margins of the film F.

The film F is preferably made of material which is inherently rigid and stiff and yet` pliable, such, for instance, as Celluloid or the like. The film is preferably provided with a plurality of marginal folds or perforations 15 forv cooperating with the teeth or pins on certain of the rollers. Any .suitable wording, display matter or the like may be applied to the lm by printing, photographically or otherwise, as most convenient and satisfactory for the purpose intended.

Mounted on top the plate 64 and pivoted to swing about the spindle 'l0 as a center is an adjusting plate 16 carrying an upstanding spindle 11 on which is rotatably mounted an idler roller 18. This roller is counterbored to receive lubricating packing 19 and its interior is closed by a ring 86 about the spindle 11. The adjusting plate 'I6 is adapted for limited rotative movement about the spindle 16 as a center by means of a slot 8| in the plate through which passes a screw 82 threaded into the plate 64. By swinging movement of the adjusting plate 'I6 about its center, the angular relationship of the Aidler roller 18 with respect to the driving roller 1l may be adjusted to thereby change the direction in which the film F leaves the driving roller and enters the magazine or storage space of the box. Two positions of adjustment are shown in Figure 8 and also two directions of lm travel are there illustrated.

The major portion of the interior of the box or casing E constitutes a storage space or magazine K in which folded or convoluted portions of the film F are housed, because of the fact that normally the length of the film F is much greater than the length of the box and excessive length is thus accumulated in folds or convolutions within the magazine K. As a floor for the bottom of the magazine K, material such as sheet ber or sheet Celluloid is inserted fashioning a floor 83 which is disposed normally a slight distance above the bottom of the box and below the plane of the motor base plate 64, as may be observed in Figs. 2 and 5. The false floor 83 is fashioned preferably by inturning the marginal portions thereof to form feet or flanges. Preferably the side margins of the magazine K are lined with strips 84 and 85 of the Vsame material as the false bottom 83, this material being such as to reduce frictionbetween it and the lm F.

f Within the box and inwardly of the front wall 54, are brackets 86 which support an elongated strip 8l, horizontally disposed, strip 87 having its outer margin upturned forming an upwardly extending ange 88. This strip 8l and its flange 88 extends along the length of the box inwardly of the front wall and constitutes a support for the source of illumination as well as for a vglass plate M interposed between the source of illumination and the opening in the front wall. On top of the strip 8l is another elongated strip 89 having a marginal upturned flange 90, which is spaced from the flange 88 to form with such flange `a guideway for the lower margin of the film F as it is drawn along the opening in the front wall of the box.

Secured to the strips 8l and 89 are spaced lamp brackets SI and 92 which receive in endwise electrical association, a single elongated incandescent bulb 93. The bulb 93 is as long as the opening 5 in the front wall of the box so as to afford uniform light projection through such opening. The contacts of the bulb 93 are at its ends and the brackets 9| and 92 provide suitable engagement for the bulb contacts for putting the same in electrical circuit for illuminating purposes.

Further details of the illuminating bulb 93, its construction and arrangement in circuit relation within such a casing are set out more in detail in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 2,184 filed January .17, 1935.

Supported on top the brackets 9| and 92, in superposed relation, are strips 91| and 95 each having a downturned flanged margin, the downturned flange 05 of the strip 96| aligns with the upturned flange 90 of the piece 89 while the downturned flange 9-6 aligns with the upturned ange 90 of the piece B9 while the downturned flange S'I of the strip 95 aligns with the upturned flange 88 of the piece 8l. The anges 88, 90, 90, and Sl, therefore, constitute guide means for the upper and lower margins of the film F as it is moved along the opening 5 in the front wall of the box. Preferably the extremities of the guide flanges just described are outturned as may be observed in Figure l to enable ready entry and exit of the nlm into and out of the guide means so formed.

Supported on the strip 87, adjacent the left hand end of the box as observed in Fig. l, is an upstanding spindle 98 on which a roller 919 is rotatably mounted. This roller is counterbored to receive lubricating means |00 and its interior is closed by a ring IBI. This roller is provided with top and bottom flanges |02 for guiding the film F as it is bent around the roller and drawn toward the driving roller 1|. The roller S9- is so aligned with the guideway formed by the flanges 95, Si, 90 and 88 that no bending ofthe film occurs between the time it leaves such guideway and contacts the surface of the roller.V

At the right hand end of the box as viewed in Fig. 1, a strip |03 is secured across the adjacent end of the box. This strip carries a spindle |04 about which is freely rotatable a roller |05 similar in all respects to roller 99 at the other end of the box. This roller is so disposed with the guide means for the film that the lm leaves the roller in straight line direction with respect to the guide means.

Rearwardly of the spindle |04, and on the piece |03 is a second spindle |06 on which a sprocket I0'I is freely rotatable. A bearing |08 is interposed between the sprocket and the plate I 03 for purposes well understood.

The roller is provided with teeth |09 for meshing with the holes 'I5 in the lm F. A flat spring IIO is secured at one end I I to the' adjacent end wall of the box, and its other end bears against the body of the roller |01 to serve as tension means for the lm as it is drawn along the opening in the front wall of the box.

Rearwardly of the roller |01 is another spindle II2 bearing a flanged roller II3 about which the film passes as it leaves the magazine Ii. An idler roller II 4 mounted on an adjustable base I I5 is adapted to be moved toward and away from the roller I I3 for the purpose of insertion and removal of a film.

Secured to the plate |03 to prevent any of the folds or convolutions'of the film within the magazine from coming in Contact with the rollers I0l and vI I2, is a guard wall I 5I. Another guard wall IIB extends toward the rear of the box from adjacent the idler roller II4.

Resting against the rear of the brackets 8| and 92 is an upstanding wall I I'I lying behind the incandescent bulb 93 and which may be polished or silvered to serve as a reiiector. The upper marginal portion of this wall is bent backwardly at II8 to serve as a reflector for directing light rays against the lowermost margin of the edge glow plate 59 for thus illuminating the plate whenever the bulb is illuminated. To protect the folds or convolutions of film within the magazine K, a sheet of heat insulating material such as asbestos I50may be secured against the back side of the wall II'I. Against this' sheet of asbestos is fastened a lining of material suchas fiber or lcelluloid against which the convolutions of the nlm rub and which facilitates movement of the film through the magazine.

At the entering end of the magazine K, that is" the end adjacent 'the motor I-I, upstanding horizontally curved guard' plates |20 and I2IY are suitably secured to the motor base plate 64 to prevent any part of the folded or convoluted lm within the magazine from becoming entangled 5. The formation of long convolutions enables" very ready withdrawal of the film fromthe ymagazine for movement along the opening in the front wall of the box.

The fact that the false bottom 83 of the magazine is disposed below the -point of entry into the magazine ofthe film from the driving roller II sov causes the fllm to take an inclined position as -shown in Fig. 2. This prevents vtoo great resistance against the film as it enters the magazine and thus enables the use of a-motor of relatively small power for efciently actuating the apparatus.

The mode of operation. of the invention is as follows: y

The motor H and the illuminating bulb 93 are Vpreferably connected in electrical circuits so that energizing the bulb. Thereupon, the motor draws the film across the opening in the wall of the box and in front of the source of illumination, that is, the bulb 93. Such movement withdraws the film from within the magazine A, at one end, and returns the film to the magazine at the other end. The film is guided in its movement along the glass plate M by means of the guide flanges 88, 89, 91 and $5. Such guiding of. the film prevents its being vertically displaced with respect to the glass plate M, thus assuring maximum illuminating effect from the light projected through the drum from the illuminating means 93.

The angular adjustment of the idler roller 'I8 with respect to the driving roller 'H may be made such as to direct the film into the magazine K in any desired direction within the limits of adjustment of the idler roller. It is well understood that said lm will leave surface contact between the rollers li and i8 in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including the axes of the rollers. Thus by swinging the idler roller about Ithe aXis of the driving roller 'il this direction may be changed, as is indicated in Fig. 4.

The bottom of the box may be provided with air vents I 22, if desired, as may be observed in Fig. 6.

Preferably the box is provided with cushioned feet |23 which may be of rubber, rubber composition or any other suitable material.

The boxes as heretofore described are low ones, slightly greater in height than the Width of the film plus space for various instrumentalities utilized for moving the film through the box.

It sometimes happens that it is desirable to design a box which is slightly higher than that heretofore described in which event resort may be had to the arrangements shown in Figs. 7 and 8 for preventing entanglement of the film in the magazine.

The box L of Figures 7 and 8 is constructed in general as the boxes heretofore described except that it is higher in vertical dimension. In order to prevent the folds or convolutions of, lm within the magazine K from becoming entangled Vertically, a hold down plate 26 may be installed in the box. The plate illustrated in these figures is provided with transverse pieces |25 adapted to have their rear ends passing through suitable slots E26 in the back wall and their front ends adapted to engage against and hook over, as at |27, the inclined portion H8 of the wall H1. In this event the hold down plate 424 is disposed above the film F a distance somewhat comparable to that of the covers of the shallow boxes heretofore described.

The extremities of the flange 83 overlie the lower flanges of the rollers 99 and H15 to prevent dislodgement of such rollers in use.

The front wall 54 is provided with an opening or slot 128 through which a colored transparent strip IZB may be inserted for giving color effect to the matter on the film or band F when the apparatus is in use.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of. parts, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a casing or box having an elongated opening along one side wall, an endless band of greater length than said opening in said casing and movable along said opening in edgewise position, said casing providing storage space for the portion of the band not along said opening, means for moving said band continuously along said opening and from and into said storage space, said band adapted to accumulate in folds or convolutions within said storage space, the bottom of said storage space on which the convolutions rest being below the lower edge of the band at its point of. departure from said moving means to facilitate formation of folds or convolutions in said space and to reduce friction between band and bottom of storage space.

2. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a casing or box having an elongated opening along one side wall, an endless band possessing sufficient rigidity to stand edgewise in said casing and movable along said opening, said casing providing storage space for the portion of the band not along said opening, said'band adapted to accumulate in folds or convolutions Within said storage space, the bottom of said storage space being below the lower edge of the band at its point of. departure from said moving means to facilitate formation of folds or convolutions in said space, and means for preventing vertical displacement of anyy of said folds or convolutions.

3. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a casing or box having an elongated opening along one side wall, an endless band of greater length than said opening and possessing suncient rigidity to stand edgewise in said casing and movable along said opening, said casing providing storage space for the portion of the band not along said opening, said band adapted to accumulate in folds or convolutions within said storage space, and co-operating rollers for moving said band continuously along said opening and from and into said storage space, one of said rollers being movable arcuately with respect to the other roller to vary the line of contact of said rollers for controlling the direction in which the band leaves said rollers and enters said stor-y age space.

4. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a 'casing or box having an elongated opening along one side wall, an endless band of greater length than said opening and possessing suicient rigidity to stand edgewise in said casing and movable along said opening, said casing providing storage space for the portion of the band not along said opening, said band adapted to accumulate in folds or convolutions within said storage space, two vertically disposed juxtaposed rollers for engaging opposite faces of said band for moving it, one of said rollers having positive driving engagement with said band, the other of said rollers being arcuately adjustable about said one roller for varying the direction of travel of said band as it leaves said rollers, said other roller also being adapted to be adjusted towards and away from said one roller for insertion and removal of the band.

5. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described; a casing or box having an elongated opening along one side wall; an endless band of greater length than said opening in said casing and movable along said opening in edgewise position; said casing providing storage space for the portion of the band not along said opening; said band adapted to accumulate in folds or convolutions'within said storage space; said storage space having its bottom and certain of its walls equipped with smooth lining material immovably arranged within said space to facilitate movement of the band into, in, and through said space; means for moving said band continuously along said opening and from and into said storage space; the bottom of said space being below the lower edge of the band at its point of departure from said moving means to facilitate formation of folds or convolutions in said space; and means for preventing vertical displacement of any of the folds or convolutions in said space.

6. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described; a relatively long flexible still endless display band possessing suflicient rigidity to stand edgewise, a 'casing having a display opening for showing but a part of the length of said band; means comprising a magazine for storing in edgewise standing position that part of the band not along said opening; means for continuously moving said band in edgewise position along said opening and into and out of said magazine; and means for adjusting the direction of entrance of Said band into said magazine.

7. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described; an elongated flat, low casing having an opening along one side wall thereof; an endless display band of greater length than said casing arranged within said casing and having a part thereof arranged in a series of convolutions within a storage chamber of said casing; means for continuously moving said band out of said chamber along said opening and back into said chamber; the point of withdrawal of said band from said chamber being nearer said wall opening than the point of band entrance into said chamber whereby a plurality of band 'convolutions extending generally in the direction of the length of the chamber are formed in said band within said chamber as said band is moved in use; means for adjusting the direction of band entrance into said chamber for varying the contour of said convolutions; and means for illuminating said band as it is moved along said opening. n

8. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described; a casing having an opening along one side Wall and having a storage magazine; an endless strip or display band of greater length than said casing and of inherently stiff yet pliable material such as celluloid or the like and capable of standing in edgewise position, supported in said edgewise position on the floor of said casing within said magazine; the major portion of said band being in the form of folds 0r convolutions within the magazine and having a part along said opening; means for continuously moving said band irredgewise position along said opening and through said magazine; and means for controlling the direction of entry of the strip into said magazine which, together with the inherent characteristics of`\the strip, cause it to form convolutions within said magazine without entanglement and without interference to its free movement into and out of saidmagazine.

9. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a casing provided with` a display opening, an endless band of the characteristics of celluloid or the like supported in upstanding edge- Wise position within said casing, means supporting a portion of said strip in edgewise position along said opening, means supporting other portions of said strip in edgewise position within said casing, means for moving said strip along said opening and thereafter forming portions of said strip into a plurality of edgewise convolutionsl within said casing, and means adjacent the top and bottom edges of the convoluted portions of said strip for preventing vertical displacement` and entanglement of suchconvolutions.

l0. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a casing having an elongated opening in lone side wall, an endless belt of greater length than the opening and adapted to be moved along the opening, a chamber for storing the portion of the belt not being displayed, a plurality of rollers for pulling the belt along said opening continuously and between which rollers the belt passes, and one of said rollers being adjustable with respect to'the other to change the line of tangency therebetween for changing the direction of entry of said belt into said chamber.

11. In an illuminated sign apparatus of the class described, a 'casing having an elongated opening in one side wall, an endless belt of greater length than the opening and adapted to be moved along the opening, a chamber for storing the portion of the belt not being displayed, two cooperatt ing rollers for pulling the belt along said opening continuously and between which rollers the belt passes, said rollers being angularly adjustable ISIDORE HOLSMAN. 

